The demise of Rise Gym, which opened its doors in Hull’s flagship K2 building just six months ago, shows just how competitive the gym sector is.

The days of gyms being in back streets and dark alleyways are long gone. The city has in recent years seen an influx of purpose-built and city centre facilities, all battling to get a slice of the pie.

But in a time when gyms are closing their doors withing just half a year of opening, while rivals fight to offer the best deals to customers, the need to stand out is greater than ever.

Fit24 in St Stephen’s has been in Hull for eight years. Its owner, Jack Burton, says the reason why is because they've gone against grain, and that has helped them grow into a successful business.

Jack Burton, owner of Fit24 in St Stephen's

He said: “One of the biggest things I would say is we don’t undervalue a membership, just for the sake of getting new people through the door.

“People with us see a constant. We have actually increased the cost of the membership slightly over the years, and it keeps away people who just want a cheap deal.

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“It keeps us apart from the budget gyms. Our membership is higher than a lot of places which claim to offer really good deals, but for the extra money we replace our equipment regularly so you are always working with new gear.

“On top of that, we are open 24/7. People can come whenever they want. We offer a full membership experience, not just somewhere you walk in, exercise, and then leave.”

Inside Fit24 in St Stephen's, Hull

Hull city centre has become a hotbed of gyms. From Fit24 and Planet Gym to Nuffield Health, it has become a congested industry, and some have already bitten the bullet.

Gym 24/7 shut its doors in Princes Quay in early 2017, and Rise Gym has now become the latest casualty.

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Mr Burton said the mistakes were easy to make. He said: “When you open up in this industry, if you don’t want to be different and want to be cheap, then you really are shooting yourself in the foot.

“It is easy to attract the wrong sort of people, who will not respect the gym and equipment, and are more likely to default on payments.

Inside Rise gym, which has now closed (Image: Rich Addison)

“A lot of gyms can also be quite faceless. The staff here are all friendly and approachable, and we have people who come in and are having problems either at work or at home, and want to talk to someone.”

Mr Burton revealed plans to set up a training academy in Hull, where people could be taught how to plan their own gym sessions and health programmes, rather than spending more money on a personal trainer.

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Hull city centre news

He said as long as the business was moving forwards, he was confident Fit24 had an edge on rivals in Hull. “We probably have more overheads here than any other gym in Hull does,” he said. “It is swings and roundabouts. We have a great location, and are in the best place to be in Hull. It’s working for us.”